Mukhyamantri Chandru

Honnasandra Narasimhaiah Chandrashekar (born 28 August 1953), known popularly as Mukhyamantri Chandru, is an Indian actor and politician. As an actor, he is known for his work in Kannada theatre and cinema. The sobriquet Mukhyamantri (Chief Minister) stuck to his name after the play of the same name that sees him portray the title role became widely popular. Having portrayed mostly comic and negative roles throughout his career, Chandru is a character actor, and has acted in over 500 films since making his debut in 1983.

Chandru joined the Janata Party in 1985 and won the year's assembly elections from Gauribidanur. Switching to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he became a member of the legislative council in 1998 and 2004. He served as the chairperson of the Kannada Development Authority till 2013 before quitting the party to join the Indian National Congress (INC) in 2014. Eight years later, he joined the Aam Aadmi Party. In 2026, he was appointed president of the Karnataka State Federation of Suppressed Backward Castes.

Personal life Chandru was born on 28 August 1953 into a family of farmers of Narasimhaiah and Thimmamma in Honnasandra, a village in the taluk of Nelamangala of Bangalore Rural district, in the Indian State of Mysore (now called Karnataka). The role went to him after Lohithaswa, the actor who was to play the role, fell ill. Titled Mukhyamantri, Chief Minister in Kannada, the play is an adaptation of a 1976 book of the same name written by Ranjit Kapoor. In the play, the Chief Minister's role is shortened to KD Kaushal or KeDi, a word used to refer to a delinquent.

Chandru's career in films began in 1983 when he was cast by producer N. Veeraswamy to play a supporting role in Chakravyuha.

Political life Chandru accepted the ticket offered by the ruling Janata Party to contest the 1985 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election from Gauribidanur. This followed after actors Anant Nag and Shankar Nag denied. Chandru won the seat by a margin of over 6,600 votes. Speaking about an incident to The Times of India of his stint as the Member of the Legislative Assembly, he said that the officers who assisted him when he "decided to get tough with the sand-mining mafia controlled by a liquor baron in his constituency" were transferred, and when he complained to Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde, he was to told to "get practical". The position was the same rank of a cabinet minister, and Chandru was retained by the subsequent governments, despite his resignation from BJP in 2013. He cited "dedicat[ing himself] for the cause of the State and Kannada language" as the reason for the quitting. In March 2014, he joined the Indian National Congress (INC).

In his tenure as the chairperson of the Kannada Development Authority (KDA), Chandru advocated very strongly for the protection and promotion of the Kannada-language. The beginning of his tenure saw a significant development in that, on 31 October 2008, Kannada was given the status of a classical language. Recommendations made by him in view of promoting the language in Karnataka were met with both praise and criticism. In December, he called for a compulsory display of vehicle registration plates of all vehicles of the State government in Kannada starting January 2009.

In 2011, under Chandru's chairpersonship, the KDA recommended to the Karnataka government to make it mandatory for immigrants in the State to clear the Class VII-level tests of the language. Chandru felt that if "outsiders ... live off the resources here, they should also learn to understand the culture, history and language of the land". Other recommendations included the use of Kannada software in cellphones, and to take over all ancient palm-leaf manuscripts in private possession and declare them state property. Chandru was instrumental in the Kempegowda International Airport authorities agreeing to display signboards and nameplates in Kannada, in 2012.

Chandru pitched for making Kannada a compulsory subject from Classes I to V. In an interview with The Times of India in 2009, he had declared that his goal was to successfully implement Kannada as an administrative language in all government offices, and push for a legislation that mandates compulsory learning of Kannada from Classes I to IV. In June 2022, he joined the Aam Aadmi Party. He was appointed the Karnataka unit president of the party in July 2023.

Activism In the first decade of the 21st century, Chandru is involved in various Kannada language activities concerning to the public, government and the mass media, has been instrumental in setting up bodies for the classical language's enhancement & encouragement.

Partial filmography Films Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1979 Muyyi 1980 Hanthakana Sanchu Robert 1983 Chakravyuha Shankarappa Simha Gharjane Patitha Pavana Murthy Mududida Tavare Aralithu 1984 Premigala Saval Gopal Rao Khaidi Indina Bharatha Vishakantaiah 1985 Naanu Nanna Hendthi Urvashi's father Jwaalamukhi Gunashekhara Swabhimana Lakshmipathi Vajra Mushti Krishna Nayak Chaduranga Ramaraju 1986 Bete Agni Parikshe "Problem" Parandham Thayiye Nanna Devaru Kariyanna Samsarada Guttu "Gudi Bande" Gundappa Guri Rudrayya 1987 Thayi "Maryade" Mayanna Ondu Muttina Kathe Mahabala 1988 Arjun Anjada Gandu Ranganath Avale Nanna Hendthi Somashekharayya Nee Nanna Daiva Bhujanga Rao Mathru Vathsalya Soorayya 1989 Ondaagi Baalu Neenu Nakkare Haalu Sakkare Hongkongnalli Agent Amar Poli Huduga Yuga Purusha Sir Judah Narasimha Rangaramaiah Idu Saadhya Siddha Gues appearance Hrudaya Geethe Chandru 1990 Challenge Gopalakrishna S. P. Sangliyana Part 2 Dhanraj Policana Hendati Golmaal Radhakrishna Shankar Ganeshana Maduve Ramanamurthy Prathap Chief Minister Muthina Haara Swarna Samsara Rao Hosa Jeevana Subbayya 1991 Golmaal Part 2 Shankar / Jagannath Rao Kitturina Huli Gauri Ganesha Poornananda Rao Ibbaru Hendira Muddina Police Madhavaiah Readymade Ganda Gruhapravesha Kalyana Mantapa Alasingachar Perumal 1992 Hendtire Hushaar Gopi Krishna Musician Solillada Saradara Rukmini's father Ganesha Subramanya Landlord Nagaradalli Nayakaru Malashree Mamashree Ondu Cinema Kathe Film producer Chikkejamanru Mysore Jaana Chandru Mannina Doni Advocate 1993 Bhagavan Sri Saibaba Khan 1994 Chinna Yarigu Helbedi Obalayya Gold Medal Home Minister Harischandra Prasad Vijaya Kankana Karunakar Rao 1995 Mister Abhishek Kondayya 1996 Ibbara Naduve Muddina Aata Sipayi Baaji Bettayya 1997 Ammavra Ganda Lakshmi Mahalakshmi 1999 Suryavamsha Padma's uncle 2000 Independence Day Galate Aliyandru Col. Vishwanath 2001 Mathadana Sarvodaya Ramarao Jipuna Nanna Ganda 2002 Simhadriya Simha Balagalittu Olage Baa 2003 Pakka Chukka Chandru Stumble Diwakar English film 2005 Mr. Bakra Shankar Amrithadhare Police Inspector Pandu Ranga Vittala 2006 Kallarali Hoovagi Murigeppa 2007 Milana Aakash's father 2008 Manasugula Mathu Madhura Madappa 2009 Chickpete Sachagalu Chandrashekhar 2011 Naanalla Lawyer Kaanchaana 2012 Parijatha Govindaya Namaha Vydehi's Father Kiladi Kitty Gandhi Smiles Samsaradalli Golmal Dakota Picture Halappa 2013 Varadhanayaka Varadhanayaka's father Neenandre Ishta Kano Chathrigalu Saar Chathrigalu Narayan's uncle 2014 Savaari 2 Pungi Daasa Judge 2015 Rana Vikrama Chief Minister Madam Helida Kathe Lodde Ganga 2016 Madhura Swapna Just Aakasmika 2020 Law Siddalingayya 2021 Munduvareda Adhyaya Home Minister 2023 Kranti Basava Rayanna 2024 Matthe Matthe Gowri 2025 Rhythm Sangeetha's Grandfather

Television + Year Title Role Notes 2013 Agnisakshi Vasudeva